This will be my 5th and last CNC machine...and I'm going to take my time building it, and i'll try and document the build as I progress...So here goes ;)

I've a load of stuff on order for this project..and the electronics package arrived this morning..On my earlier projects I built the electronics and stepper controllers from scratch, but this time I found it was easier and cheaper to buy the parts as a kit...Most of the gear is available on eBay.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc143/shiregreenbod/PICT0019_zpsqvi9wgoy.jpg (http://s219.photobucket.com/user/shiregreenbod/media/PICT0019_zpsqvi9wgoy.jpg.html)

Doc_J

02-24-2017, 01:43 AM

That's a nice looking motor & control buy. Will you be using LinuxCNC or other PC software?

Timbuck

02-24-2017, 04:09 AM

That's a nice looking motor & control buy. Will you be using LinuxCNC or other PC software?
My Son Mike will take care of that bit...He uses Mach3 software and Solidworks CAD....I tried to learn it and gave up :old:

Timbuck

02-25-2017, 05:28 AM

Almost every thing I'll need for this project is now on order and some parts and materials have already arrived, total cost so far is £585 ...Thats not bad when you consider that a similar CNC router ready built to this spec would cost about £3000.

ksquine

02-27-2017, 06:20 AM

Almost every thing I'll need for this project is now on order and some parts and materials have already arrived, total cost so far is £585 ...Thats not bad when you consider that a similar CNC router ready built to this spec would cost about £3000.

Hmm...sounds like a reasonable price. I've been looking at CNC router kits online lately (As if I need ANOTHER way to fill up my weekends). I'd love to hear what you plan to build and how!!

Timbuck

02-27-2017, 09:28 AM

I'm aiming for a 700mm x 700mm work area , with 425 Oz motors , vacuum table and a Kress
spindle grinder/router.
20mm dia supported rails and linear bearings...All lead screws and nuts are metric trapizoidal 16 x 4...I haven't made a drawing or a plan yet, I just worked it all out in my head based on my 4 previous builds.

It should be up and running early April to May depending on how long it takes to get some of the parts from China.

More material arrived this morning so I started marking out and cutting to length ..this is going to be the main frame of the machine, made from 3" x 1" box section aluminium and 2" x 2" x 3/16" angle....Next job is to clear a space and rig up a bench in the workshop so I can start on the assembly of the components.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc143/shiregreenbod/PICT0007_zpsmovc5edj.jpg (http://s219.photobucket.com/user/shiregreenbod/media/PICT0007_zpsmovc5edj.jpg.html)
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc143/shiregreenbod/PICT0010_zpscq2d0ic2.jpg (http://s219.photobucket.com/user/shiregreenbod/media/PICT0010_zpscq2d0ic2.jpg.html)
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc143/shiregreenbod/PICT0013_zpsjxr315mz.jpg (http://s219.photobucket.com/user/shiregreenbod/media/PICT0013_zpsjxr315mz.jpg.html)
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc143/shiregreenbod/PICT0015_zpssndq8rsu.jpg (http://s219.photobucket.com/user/shiregreenbod/media/PICT0015_zpssndq8rsu.jpg.html)

Matt Clara

03-02-2017, 02:07 AM

Very cool, Ken! The computer that drove mine died, and I'm having trouble getting the new one to communicate with the machine. Frustrating.

Timbuck

03-02-2017, 04:29 AM

The rails and linear bearings arrived from china today.....Word of warning :uhoh: these items on ebay look as if they are at a bargain price...but when they get here you have to pay import duty and they end up being just as expensive as those purchased locally....I had to cough up £40 at the doorstep to the courior bloke.:mad:
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc143/shiregreenbod/PICT0018_zpst3qtzhnh.jpg (http://s219.photobucket.com/user/shiregreenbod/media/PICT0018_zpst3qtzhnh.jpg.html)

Timbuck

03-03-2017, 03:51 AM

Good progress today ...main frame bolted together and X axis rails fitted...This is turning out bigger than I first envisaged ;) big enough for Baritones and Guitars.:music:..Nex opp: starting on the "Y" Gantry.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc143/shiregreenbod/PICT0022_zps0ro4cscm.jpg (http://s219.photobucket.com/user/shiregreenbod/media/PICT0022_zps0ro4cscm.jpg.html)

ksquine

03-03-2017, 06:35 AM

Looking good. Did you weld the frame together or just use the angle brackets and screws?

Timbuck

03-03-2017, 09:52 AM

Looking good. Did you weld the frame together or just use the angle brackets and screws? no welding just careful measurement cutting and tapping and bolting together with M6 cap screws.
The 2x2 angles double up as legs and hold the assembly square...my only set back so far is a broken M5 tap while fitting the rails, it broke off flush in the aluminium, I'll try and repair that tomorrow.

Timbuck

03-05-2017, 02:27 AM

Arthritis in the knees killing me, eyesight getting worse (going for eye surgery on friday) backache as well.:( But! i'm still making progress.
i'm now working on the "Y" axis gantry but I have run out of M5 cap screws..so i'll have to order some more.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc143/shiregreenbod/PICT0040_zpshegh24ic.jpg (http://s219.photobucket.com/user/shiregreenbod/media/PICT0040_zpshegh24ic.jpg.html)

Hms

03-05-2017, 12:42 PM

Blimey Ken, that looks the dog's doo dah's!
Any feet going on to it for levelling?
h

Timbuck

03-05-2017, 10:18 PM

Blimey Ken, that looks the dog's doo dah's!
Any feet going on to it for levelling?
h
Hi Howard...if the surface it stands on is level it will be ok..but I have a set of screw jack feet ready just in case.

Hms

03-06-2017, 03:36 AM

Somehow I thought you'd be prepared, you boy scout you!
Looking forward to seeing this finished, and working.
Good luck on Friday with the op.
h

Pretty impressive. I suppose all that has to be plumb and square to a very close tolerance. You really have set a high goal for yourself this time Ken. But just think of what that thing could do! There is a lot of power in the Cartesian coordinate system. Making it three dimensional ain't so easy.

Timbuck

03-07-2017, 09:27 PM

Pretty impressive. I suppose all that has to be plumb and square to a very close tolerance. You really have set a high goal for yourself this time Ken. But just think of what that thing could do!?

Thats right the tolerances and squareness have to be spot on or the linear bearings and leadscrews will just bind up...one of my earlier CNC machine builds was with 18mm baltic plywood as the main frame ...and that one has been working well with no problems for the last 9 years...and the first one I built was made from an old coffee table and a load of steel scrap parts including some roller skate bearings and steel tubing.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc143/shiregreenbod/PICT0016_zps29e0335d.jpg (http://s219.photobucket.com/user/shiregreenbod/media/PICT0016_zps29e0335d.jpg.html)

sequoia

03-08-2017, 06:45 PM

scrap parts including some roller skate bearings and steel tubing.

I just love it.

Timbuck

03-09-2017, 02:48 AM

I have now sorted out how to mount the motor and install the "X" axis leadscrew but it wasn't easy.
https://preview.ibb.co/mo2o3v/PICT0008.jpg (https://ibb.co/dDnzAa)

Vespa Bob

03-09-2017, 04:10 AM

That is truly a work of art, not to mention patience skill and fortitude!

Bob

ksquine

03-09-2017, 06:17 AM

What was tricky about the X axis mount?

Timbuck

03-09-2017, 07:40 AM

What was tricky about the X axis mount?
The aluminium box section only has a wall thickness of 3.5 mm...and I didn't think there was enough meat to support the threads of the four M5 bolts that hold the motor and they could be easily stripped...So I got around the problem by fitting an 8 mm plate with 10 cap screws holding it in place and the motor now fastens to this plate rock solid...there is also two ball race bearings fitted at each end of the leadscrew to prevent any vibrations damaging the motor bearings.

Timbuck

03-09-2017, 11:22 PM

Not doing much today co's i'm off to the Eye Clinic soon :uhoh: so i'm experimenting with the design of the "Z" axis..it's going to look somthing like this.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc143/shiregreenbod/PICT0004_zpsgtapg8ul.jpg (http://s219.photobucket.com/user/shiregreenbod/media/PICT0004_zpsgtapg8ul.jpg.html)

lauburu

03-10-2017, 08:14 AM

Hope everything went well with your op.
Miguel

Timbuck

03-13-2017, 02:40 AM

Eye op will be in another Six weeks...In the meantime I have made more progress ..Here is a short vid showing a test of the X and Y linear bearings.
https://youtu.be/FqVqP88kvB4

ksquine

03-13-2017, 06:09 AM

Not doing much today co's i'm off to the Eye Clinic soon :uhoh: so i'm experimenting with the design of the "Z" axis..it's going to look somthing like this.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc143/shiregreenbod/PICT0004_zpsgtapg8ul.jpg (http://s219.photobucket.com/user/shiregreenbod/media/PICT0004_zpsgtapg8ul.jpg.html)

That looks kinda horizontal for a Z Axis :p

Timbuck

03-16-2017, 11:53 PM

Well the "Z" axis is almost completed, I just need the bracket for the router to complete it ..48 screws holding it all together :) just click on pic for larger image
https://thumb.ibb.co/g1s8ov/PICT0022.jpg (https://ibb.co/g1s8ov)

Andyk

03-17-2017, 12:50 AM

wow! ... that isn't going to fall apart any time soon.

How heavy do you reckon it will be when finished? will you need to build a forklift too? :)

ksquine

03-17-2017, 06:20 AM

Coming together fast now. I can't wait to see the electrics

Timbuck

03-17-2017, 07:19 AM

Fitting the "Y" axis AB nut today and marked drilled a couple of holes in the wrong place:mad:...so i've had to slot them to put the job right..luckily it's in a place where it's completely covered over ...But! I know it's there...I hope I can sleep tonight:rolleyes:

Timbuck

03-18-2017, 07:10 AM

All the mechanical stuff now completed, I spent a few hours today making sure all the moving parts were running smoothly...I'm now starting on the wiring up of the motors. here are a few pics.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc143/shiregreenbod/PICT0002_zpse9cnrrgb.jpg (http://s219.photobucket.com/user/shiregreenbod/media/PICT0002_zpse9cnrrgb.jpg.html)
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc143/shiregreenbod/PICT0007_zps8nvokuoz.jpg (http://s219.photobucket.com/user/shiregreenbod/media/PICT0007_zps8nvokuoz.jpg.html)
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc143/shiregreenbod/PICT0005_zpspt47gqps.jpg (http://s219.photobucket.com/user/shiregreenbod/media/PICT0005_zpspt47gqps.jpg.html)
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc143/shiregreenbod/PICT0014_zpse3omtdqe.jpg (http://s219.photobucket.com/user/shiregreenbod/media/PICT0014_zpse3omtdqe.jpg.html)

Timbuck

03-21-2017, 05:06 AM

In between taxi driving the family to Hostpital and back to visit a sick relative, I've been plodding along with the wiring up of the motors......I just love these cable chain devices on the X Y axis...I'm still waiting for more items to arrive to complete the project ..I need the material to make the spindle bracket..some plugs and connectors, and I'm waiting for a steel enclosure box for the electronics...My eyesight is now becoming a problem I can only use one eye for close up work and I'm using a magnifier...I've got a 17 fret soprano part completed and I'll have to wait till after the eye op before I can finish it :(
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc143/shiregreenbod/PICT0044_zpsovzvggbs.jpg (http://s219.photobucket.com/user/shiregreenbod/media/PICT0044_zpsovzvggbs.jpg.html)
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc143/shiregreenbod/PICT0048_zpskmxgkt5h.jpg (http://s219.photobucket.com/user/shiregreenbod/media/PICT0048_zpskmxgkt5h.jpg.html)
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc143/shiregreenbod/PICT0051_zpsg1ujttsz.jpg (http://s219.photobucket.com/user/shiregreenbod/media/PICT0051_zpsg1ujttsz.jpg.html)

ksquine

03-21-2017, 06:21 AM

Looking almost ready. Which controller are you using?

The big question now is.....what's the first thing to cut on it??

Vespa Bob

03-23-2017, 04:40 AM

Wow, Ken, I know nothing about CNC machines, nor do I care, but those beautiful photos of smooth machined aluminium, held together by bolts screwed into accurately drilled and threaded holes, has me drooling!

Bob

Timbuck

03-24-2017, 04:33 AM

Finaly got the Machine all wired up and router/spindle fitted i'm going to fit a work table to it next...It's going to be 25mm high density MDF..I was thinking about fitting a T slotted aluminium deck but decided not to after advice from a couple of CNC forum guys co's they recon they are only going to get damaged when the CNC coding gets it wrong and plunges the cutter into the deck...here is the finished job.,,,with a pic of the umbilical cord that connects to the controller.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc143/shiregreenbod/PICT0067_zpsr9dmjufy.jpg (http://s219.photobucket.com/user/shiregreenbod/media/PICT0067_zpsr9dmjufy.jpg.html)
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc143/shiregreenbod/PICT0071_zpsmempc0ee.jpg (http://s219.photobucket.com/user/shiregreenbod/media/PICT0071_zpsmempc0ee.jpg.html)

Timbuck

03-24-2017, 04:46 AM

Now i've started on the controller enclosure ...I got a galvanized steel box from off eBay for 15 quid it's 12" x 12" x 6" and just right for this job I've started fitting the power supply and drivers and the X Y Z sockets, the break out board (BOB) and the computer port..I still need to fit the mains cord and an extra fan to help with the cooling..also I'm waiting for a 5 volt power supply coming from Hong Kong...when i've completed the wiring and motor tuning set up..i think it will be ready for commissioning and it's Maiden voyage.

Ken, you never cease to amaze me!! That is just incredible. I've done some CNC retrofits and a lot of programming but I don't think I could build one from scratch.
I just ponyed up and got a prefab CNC router. Am messing with it now

terry

sequoia

03-24-2017, 05:53 PM

I'm pretty handy and think I can pretty much build anything if I have too, but that is so beyond anything I can even imagine... Pretty impressive Ken. Looking forward to the maiden voyage. Is vibration an issue?

Timbuck

03-25-2017, 05:24 AM

I'm pretty handy and think I can pretty much build anything if I have too, but that is so beyond anything I can even imagine... Pretty impressive Ken. Looking forward to the maiden voyage. Is vibration an issue?
It's not Vibrations that can give you problems ..It's harmonic resonance from the stepper motors that most users complain about, usually on CNC metal milling machines causing chatter on the tooling giving pretty patterns on the material :) but i've not had that problem cutting wood and plastics.

Timbuck

03-27-2017, 01:18 AM

While waiting for the worktable and the 5 volt power supply to arrive, we hooked up the machine to a USB phone charger and a computer and started tuning up the Stepper motors with the Mach 3 software..all the electrical connections were correct and we got it up and running in no time..after a bit of fiddling about with the feed rates we got it running comfortably at 50 IPM. which is ideal for the job it's built for...Here is a bit of a video I made at the time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dcRG7dNCjU

Doctor Frankenstein: Oh, in the name of God! Now I know what it feels like to be God!

Timbuck

03-29-2017, 01:02 AM

After checking the accuracy of the machine I was disturbed/ horrified to discover there was .005" play between the the Chinese bought bronze nuts and the leadscrews on the X & Y giving me .005" of backlash every time the leadscrews reversed..so I spent a couple of hours on the lathe and made a couple of Delrin anti backlash devices..and now the Backlash is zero :D
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc143/shiregreenbod/PICT0018_zpswytuhtmu.jpg (http://s219.photobucket.com/user/shiregreenbod/media/PICT0018_zpswytuhtmu.jpg.html)
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc143/shiregreenbod/PICT0015_zpsph8ci76m.jpg (http://s219.photobucket.com/user/shiregreenbod/media/PICT0015_zpsph8ci76m.jpg.html)

Timbuck

03-30-2017, 11:52 PM

Apart from a 5 volt regulated power supply on the way from China (which I can manage without for a while) ...this project is over, it took about 5 weeks ...I'll be handing it over to my Son Mike this weekend so he can fit it into his workshop...I'm hoping he will repay me by providing me a few jigs and a radius dished board or two.
Here are a few final pics...The final cost of materials and components came to approx: £900 but I recon it's worth at least 3 times that.... I'll try show a video later on when it is in action.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc143/shiregreenbod/PICT0002_zps7qobidmz.jpg (http://s219.photobucket.com/user/shiregreenbod/media/PICT0002_zps7qobidmz.jpg.html)
CONTROLLER INARDS
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc143/shiregreenbod/PICT0010_zpsv4imc01s.jpg (http://s219.photobucket.com/user/shiregreenbod/media/PICT0010_zpsv4imc01s.jpg.html)
CONTROL BOX
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc143/shiregreenbod/PICT0011_zpsh3zpc71n.jpg (http://s219.photobucket.com/user/shiregreenbod/media/PICT0011_zpsh3zpc71n.jpg.html)

Hms

04-02-2017, 10:58 PM

Lovely work Ken.
How's the anti backlash set up work?
Second nut on drive thread, floating, ie not fixed to carriage, connected to drive nut by springs under compresion, therefore keeping drive nut and second nut on opposite faces of the thread on drive screw?
h

Timbuck

04-03-2017, 01:57 AM

Lovely work Ken.
How's the anti backlash set up work?
Second nut on drive thread, floating, ie not fixed to carriage, connected to drive nut by springs under compresion, therefore keeping drive nut and second nut on opposite faces of the thread on drive screw?
hYou're right there Howard ... I could do away with the springs and use lock nuts instead...but that would make ajustment more fiddly.

Timbuck

04-06-2017, 04:43 AM

We did the first test of this machine today...With a fine engraving cutter to see what quality it was capable of..the first results were quite pleasing.
And here is video of it in action on this scrap piece of shiny plastic. :D...the drone logo is on a product Mike manufactures
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15S6u0jAXCM
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc143/shiregreenbod/PICT0019_zpskdanvevm.jpg (http://s219.photobucket.com/user/shiregreenbod/media/PICT0019_zpskdanvevm.jpg.html)